Search

Populations consuming saline drinking water are at greater risk of high blood pressure and potentially other adverse health outcomes. We modelled data and used available datasets to identify countries of higher vulnerability to future saltwater intrusion associated with climate change in 2050 under Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP)4.5 and RCP8.5. We developed three vulnerability criteria to capture geographies with: (1) any coastal areas with projected inland saltwater intrusion of ≥ 1 km inland, (2) > 50% of the population in coastal secondary administrative areas with reliance on groundwater for drinking water, and 3) high national average sodium urinary excretion (i.e., > 3 g/day). We identified 41 nations across all continents (except Antarctica) with ≥ 1 km of inland saltwater intrusion by 2050. Seven low- and middle-income countries of higher vulnerability were all concentrated in South/Southeast Asia. Based on these initial findings, future research should study geological nuances at the local level in higher-risk areas and co-produce with local communities contextually appropriate solutions to secure equitable access to clean drinking water.

Most studies in astrobotany employ soil as the primary crop-growing medium, which is being researched and innovated. However, utilizing soil for planting in microgravity conditions may be impractical due to its weight, the issue of particles suspended in microgravity, and its propensity to harbor pathogenic microorganisms that pose health risks. Hence, soilless irrigation and fertigation systems such as fogponics possess a high potential for space farming. Fogponics is a promising variation of aeroponics, which involves the delivery of nutrient-rich water as a fine fog to plant roots. However, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of fogponics compared to other soilless cultivation methods is essential. Additionally, optimizing fogponics systems for effective crop cultivation in microgravity environments is crucial. This study investigated the interaction of fogponics and artificial intelligence for crop cultivation in microgravity environments, aiming to replace soil-based methods, filling a significant research gap as the first comprehensive examination of this interplay in the literature. A comparative assessment of soilless fertigation and irrigation techniques to identify strengths and weaknesses was conducted, providing an overview through a literature review. This highlights key concepts, methodologies, and findings, emphasizing fogponics’ relevance in space exploration and identifying gaps in current understanding. Insights suggest that developing adaptive fogponics systems for microgravity faces challenges due to uncharacterized fog behavior and optimization complexities without gravity. Fogponics shows promise for sustainable space agriculture, yet it lags in technological integration compared with hydroponics and aeroponics. Future research should focus on microgravity fog behavior analysis, the development of an effective and optimized space mission-compatible fogponics system, and system improvements such as an electronic nose for an adaptive system fog chemical composition. This study recommends integrating advanced technologies like AI-driven closed-loop systems to advance fogponics applications in space farming.

Abstract Background Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a chronic mental health condition that results in a significant individual and societal burden. While cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is well established as an efficacious treatment for GAD, many patients experience logistical barriers when accessing face-to-face CBT. Remotely delivered treatments remove many of these barriers. Despite emerging evidence demonstrating the efficacy of remotely delivered CBT for GAD, studies examining the efficacy of remote methods for GAD that are analogous to standard face-to-face treatment, in particular synchronous treatments such as CBT delivered via online videoconferencing (VCBT), are needed. Methods The authors propose a two-group randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of VCBT for GAD against a waitlist control group. The recruitment target will be 78 adults with primary GAD of at least moderate severity. The manualized high-intensity VCBT intervention will be delivered weekly over a 10-week period. After treatment completion, waitlist participants will receive the same VCBT delivered in a brief format (i.e., weekly over a 5-week period). Treatment for both groups will be delivered in real time via an online teleconferencing platform. Outcome measures will be administered at baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up. Discussion This trial will report findings on the efficacy of a remote synchronous high-intensity VCBT intervention for GAD. The results have the potential to contribute towards advancing our knowledge on the evidence base for GAD, as well as increase the dissemination of VCBT for GAD. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12621000786897 . Registered on 22 June 2021

Background: We aimed to estimate the relative risk of mortality following a first positive SARS-CoV-2 test during the first, second, and third waves of the COVID-19pandemic in England by age, sex, and vaccination status, taking into account pre-existing health conditions and lifestyle factors. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all individuals registered with the National Health Service (NHS) in England from 1 March 2020 to September 2022. Data for all individuals were obtained and linked including primary care records, hospital admission episodes, SARS-CoV-2 test results, vaccinations, and death registrations. We fitted Cox Proportional Hazards models with time dependent covariates for confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection to model the risk of subsequent mortality. Results: The hazard ratio for death after testing positive for subsequent, compared with those not testing positive, amongst unvaccinated individuals, ranged from 11 to 89 by age and sex, in the first four weeks following a positive test in wave one and reduced to 14 to 50 in wave three. This hazard was further reduced amongst those who had three vaccines to between 1.4 and 7 in wave three. Conclusions: This study provides robust estimates of increased mortality risk among those who tested positive over the first three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in England. The estimates show the impact of various factors affecting the risk of mortality from COVID-19. The results provide the first step towards estimating the magnitude and pattern of mortality displacement due to COVID-19, which is essential to understanding subsequent mortality rates in England. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most studies in astrobotany employ soil as the primary crop-growing medium, which is being researched and innovated. However, utilizing soil for planting in microgravity conditions may be impractical due to its weight, the issue of particles suspended in microgravity, and its propensity to harbor pathogenic microorganisms that pose health risks. Hence, soilless irrigation and fertigation systems such as fogponics possess a high potential for space farming. Fogponics is a promising variation of aeroponics, which involves the delivery of nutrient-rich water as a fine fog to plant roots. However, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of fogponics compared to other soilless cultivation methods is essential. Additionally, optimizing fogponics systems for effective crop cultivation in microgravity environments is crucial. This study investigated the interaction of fogponics and artificial intelligence for crop cultivation in microgravity environments, aiming to replace soil-based methods, filling a significant research gap as the first comprehensive examination of this interplay in the literature. A comparative assessment of soilless fertigation and irrigation techniques to identify strengths and weaknesses was conducted, providing an overview through a literature review. This highlights key concepts, methodologies, and findings, emphasizing fogponics' relevance in space exploration and identifying gaps in current understanding. Insights suggest that developing adaptive fogponics systems for microgravity faces challenges due to uncharacterized fog behavior and optimization complexities without gravity. Fogponics shows promise for sustainable space agriculture, yet it lags in technological integration compared with hydroponics and aeroponics. Future research should focus on microgravity fog behavior analysis, the development of an effective and optimized space mission-compatible fogponics system, and system improvements such as an electronic nose for an adaptive system fog chemical composition. This study recommends integrating advanced technologies like AI-driven closed-loop systems to advance fogponics applications in space farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population-representative estimates of SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence and antibody levels in specific geographic areas at different time points are needed to optimise policy responses. However, even population-wide surveys are potentially impacted by biases arising from differences in participation rates across key groups. Here, we used spatio-temporal regression and post-stratification models to UK's national COVID-19 Infection Survey (CIS) to obtain representative estimates of PCR positivity (6,496,052 tests) and antibody prevalence (1,941,333 tests) for different regions, ages and ethnicities (7-December-2020 to 4-May-2022). Not accounting for vaccination status through post-stratification led to small underestimation of PCR positivity, but more substantial overestimations of antibody levels in the population (up to 21 percentage points), particularly in groups with low vaccine uptake in the general population. There was marked variation in the relative contribution of different areas and age-groups to each wave. Future analyses of infectious disease surveys should take into account major drivers of outcomes of interest that may also influence participation, with vaccination being an important factor to consider. Estimates of infection rates from the UK COVID-19 Infection Survey may have been biased by the characteristics of people who chose to take part. Here, the authors show that the survey population had unusually high vaccination rates and adjust infection estimates taking this into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a prevalent and chronic mental health condition, associated with considerable individual and economic burden. Despite the availability of effective treatments, many individuals do not access support. The current study explores treatment histories, barriers to help‐seeking, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) treatment preferences for individuals with clinically significant GAD symptoms. The utility of Health Belief Model (HBM) in predicting help‐seeking is also examined. A cross‐sectional design with 127 participants (Mage = 29.17; SD = 11.86; 80.3% female) was used. Sixty‐two percent of participants reported previously seeking psychological treatment, and approximately 28% received CBT in the first instance. The most influential treatment barriers were a desire to solve the problem on one's own (M = 1.96, SD = 0.96), followed by affordability (M = 1.75, SD = 1.15) and feeling embarrassed or ashamed (M = 1.75, SD = 1.06). The most preferred treatment modes were in‐person individual treatment (M = 7.59, SD = 2.86) followed by remote treatment via videoconferencing (M = 4.31, SD = 3.55). Approximately 38% of the variance in intention to seek treatment was associated with the HBM variables, with perceived benefit of treatment being the strongest predictor. Results have the potential to inform mental health service delivery by reducing treatment barriers and aligning public health campaigns with benefits of psychological treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A substantial number of children and adolescents undergoing surgical procedures, as many as 40% in some estimates, will go on to develop chronic post surgical pain (CPSP). Because of the significant negative impact of CPSP on social and emotional milestones, as well as the child’s quality of life, it is important to identify modifiable factors that are associated with the onset and maintenance of the condition. Research has demonstrated that parent factors can play a role in pediatric chronic pain, however there has been little examination of parent and family influences on the transition to CPSP. Family systems theories, which consider the influence of the family unit overall on the behaviour of individuals members, have been applied to the eating disorders literature for decades. This narrative review proposes a novel application of family systems theory to pediatric CPSP, and in particular highlights the role that parental dyadic factors may play in the development and maintenance of persistent pain following surgery in children and adolescents.

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Pain is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)